Message to the community from Luren E. Dickinson:

State and local funding continue to be depressed and, like other libraries across the nation, Shaker Library continues to stretch scarcer dollars. We “give the gift of reading” and appreciate every little bit of extra support that we get from groups and individuals as we promote culture, education, and the love of learning.

Our most steadfast ally continues to be Friends of the Shaker Library with more than $40,000 in annual support derived from their never-ending and semi-annual book sales and membership dues. If you are not a member of the Friends, please consider joining now with a tax-deductible donation as low as $15 for individuals, $25 for families, and $125 for a business.

We also want to salute the business partners of the Friends who provide special discounts and services as a value added benefit to those who show their membership cards. Among those enterprising groups are Shaker Heights Hardware, Shaker Auto Hospital, Shaker Animal Clinic, Pearl of the Orient, Multitudes International Salon, Loganberry Books, J. Pistone Market, Good Nature, Chagrin Chiropractic, Center Heights Service, Al Nola Shoe Repair, and A. J. Heil Florist.

Besides memberships, Friends also accepts donations of material for their “Never-ending” book sales at the Main Library and the Bertram Woods Branch, as well as the spring and fall book sales at the Main Library. For more information on what is acceptable and how to donate, go to:

http://www.shakerlibrary.org/Library%20Guide/Friends%20of%20the%20Library/?How+to+Donate+Books

If individuals want to make contributions to the Shaker Library, they can do so on their own by contacting us directly. These donations can be for any reason, including memorials, to honor an occasion or accomplishment, or to give support to the Library for a specially targeted area. Some people like to contribute toward certain subject areas in the collection where others might wish to give toward the Reading Garden at Woods Branch. Please feel free to call me and I will be happy to discuss any ideas that you might have.

To make the donation process easier, Shaker Library has a PayPal account on our website at http://www.shakerlibrary.org/Donations/ This method allows you to pay by credit card and to give specifics on your donation by adding notes in the message field.

For those who wish to make a larger and more lasting donation, the place to designate your contributions is the Shaker Heights Public Library Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, which was established with a $10,000 donation from Friends of the Shaker Library. To donate, go to

https://www.clevelandfoundation.org/Donors/BecomingADonor/GiveOnline/Default.aspx

If you are interested in setting up a bequest, some other type of structured gift, or a special fund, please contact us directly. We hope to expand the size and scope of our endowment through a variety of restricted and unrestricted funds. One of our most active funds was established by the family and friends of Marilyn Kammer (1931- 1998). Their fund honors her memory by supporting a collection of best-selling fiction and non-fiction at Bertram Woods Branch.

Luren E. Dickinson, Director
dickinson@shakerlibrary.org